Wednesday, July 31, 2013

"EXCUSES FOR PIANO LESSONS" by Jelia Megawati Heru (Staccato, August 2013)

“EXCUSES FOR PIANO LESSONS”
By: Jelia Megawati Heru
Artikel STACCATO (Agustus 2013)


“Maaf, saya tidak sempat latihan karena saya terlalu sibuk”

“Maaf, saya lupa membawa buku saya”

“Saya ketinggalan buku saya di tempat les Inggris”

“Maaf, saya ada keperluan mendadak. Apakah les piano nya boleh diganti ke hari lain?”

“Maaf, anak saya ada pelajaran tambahan karena besok dia ada ulangan matematika, 
saya lupa info. Apakah les nya bisa diganti ke hari lain?”

“Maaf, saya datang terlambat, tapi Anda tidak keberatan untuk menambah waktunya kan?”

“Maaf, orang tua saya sedang bekerja di luar kota. Saya tidak tahu kapan mereka kembali.

Apakah uang les nya bisa dibayar di bulan depan?”

“Saya sekeluarga akan pergi berlibur selama 1 bulan. Untuk sementara tidak les dulu ya.”

 
Apakah Anda familiar dengan beberapa kalimat diatas? 

Saturday, July 27, 2013

HISTORY BEHIND THE NOKIA TUNE

HISTORY BEHIND THE NOKIA TUNE

 

Tárrega and the Nokia Ringtone
The Nokia ringtone is probably the world's most heard and recognized tune. Ever. And it will probably continue to be so for a long time. The melody used as a ringtone (jingle) in Nokia mobile phones, called as “Nokia Tune”. This tune, which you have heard nineteen times this week, goes something like: “yada da da, yada da da, yada da da daah.” Derived from bars 13-16 of Gran Vals by Francisco Tárrega (from 1902). 


On September 4, 2007, Nokia received U.S. Trademark Registration No. 3,288,274 for "a sound comprising a C eighth note, E flat eight note, B flat eighth note, G quarter note, C eighth note and C quarter note." The last note is different from the original. Nokia changed the last note of the phrase to give it a sense of completeness, so the phrase is said to 'resolve' itself. This allows it to stand alone as a musical statement or idea.

Listen to the real Tarrega "Grand Waltz" in guitar: 

Known as "The Sarasate of the Guitar," Tárrega is considered to have laid the foundations for 20th century classical guitar and for increasing interest in the guitar as a recital instrument. Andrés Segovia used much of Tárrega's work when he took classical guitar into concert halls of Europe.

Nokia Commercial TV Ad (1995)

Friday, July 19, 2013

JS. BACH "The Coffee Cantata"

JS. BACH “THE COFFEE CANTATA”


"Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love."
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand (1754-1838)
speaking of the perfect cup of coffee.


"Without my morning coffee I'm just like a dried up piece of roast goat."
"Ah! How sweet coffee tastes! Lovelier than a thousand kisses, 
sweeter than muscatel wine!
I must have my coffee..."
(1732, an aria from Lieschen in Bach's "Kaffee-Kantate")


How Bach managed to write such beautiful (and intense) music with shaky, caffeine-addled hands is a mystery, but it's a good thing he did: Nicknamed "The Coffee Cantata," is a comedic love note to the one of the German composer's favorite beverages, penned (one assumes during sleepless nights) between 1732 and 1734.

Bach owned a few coffee makers and was a big coffee lover himself. The consumption of this beverage was apparently illegal during Bach's time, since the profits for its sales went to foreign hands, as opposed to the profits for beer sales, which would stay in Germany, so the King was rightfully upset about people drinking coffee.

"Die Katze läßt das Mausen nicht"
by Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

"The Coffee Cantata", is actually more a mini comic opera, but is classified as a secular cantata. It tells the story of Schlendrian, whose daughter Lieschen is addicted to coffee. He eventually forbids her to marry unless she gives up coffee, but as he is out searching for a husband for her, she tells her suitors that she will only marry them if they allow her to drink coffee!

In an effort to rid his daughter of the evil drink, he progressively forbids her her luxuries. Lieschen refuses to give it up, saying that coffee is more delicious than a thousand kisses, and sweeter than muscatel wine. It is only when Schlendrian refuses to allow her to marry that she relents. But even then, as the father goes off to find a husband, Lieschen reveals that she will make it a part of the marriage contract that she be allowed her three cups a day.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

FOR THE LOVE OF COFFEE MUSIC

FOR THE LOVE OF COFFEE MUSIC


For coffee lovers, life begins after a cup of coffee.
"I orchestrate my mornings to the tune of coffee.
Hot coffee and cold winter mornings are two of the best soul mates 
who ever did find each other.
Terri Guillemets

"You're the Cream in My Coffee" - Nat King Cole
 
"He was my cream, and I was his coffee -
And when you poured us together, it was something."

Josephine Baker

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Western Parenting Vs Eastern Parenting (part 2)

WESTERN PARENTING 
VS 
EASTERN PARENTING
(part two)


"BATTLE HYMN OF THE TIGER MOTHER"

Anda pernah membaca buku Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother? Karya Amy Chua ini merupakan best seller tengah yang menjadi perbincangan warga dunia. Dalam memoarnya, ibu dari Sophia (18 tahun) dan Louisa (14 tahun) itu menceritakan kesuksesan serta kesalahan yang dibuatnya dalam mengasuh anak dengan gaya tradisional Cina. Orang tua Cina memang terkenal otoriter. Kedisiplinan dan kerja keras demi menggapai sukses mereka pertahankan di manapun berada. “Ini menjadi nilai yang diakui bersama oleh warga Cina,” jelas sosiolog Erna Karim

Excerpt from the book 
"Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother"

Sophie Chua at Carnegie Hall

Di satu sisi, Amy mendapat acungan jempol atas hasil pengasuhannya. Di usia 14 tahun, jemari si sulung, Sophia, lincah menari-nari di atas tuts piano di Carnegie Hall. Sedangkan, adiknya, Louisa memainkan biola tanpa sedikitpun nada sumbang. Seolah memenuhi tuntutan sang bunda, keduanya juga tampil sebagai jagoan akademik.

Eastern Parenting Vs Western Parenting

EASTERN PARENTING
VS
WESTERN PARENTING


Despite our squeamishness about cultural stereotypes, there are tons of studies out there showing marked and quantifiable differences between Chinese and Westerners when it comes to parenting. 

In one study of 50 Western American mothers and 48 Chinese immigrant mothers, almost 70% of the Western mothers said either that "stressing academic success is not good for children" or that "parents need to foster the idea that learning is fun." By contrast, roughly 0% of the Chinese mothers felt the same way. Instead, the vast majority of the Chinese mothers said that they believe their children can be "the best" students, that "academic achievement reflects successful parenting," and that if children did not excel at school then there was "a problem" and parents "were not doing their job." Other studies indicate that compared to Western parents, Chinese parents spend approximately 10 times as long every day drilling academic activities with their children. By contrast, Western kids are more likely to participate in sports teams.


CHINESE & WESTERN PARENTAL MIND-SETS

There are three big differences between the Chinese and Western parental mind-sets:

First, Western parents are extremely anxious about their children's self-esteem. 
They worry about how their children will feel if they fail at something, and they constantly try to reassure their children about how good they are notwithstanding a mediocre performance on a test or at a recital. In other words, Western parents are concerned about their children's psyches. Chinese parents aren't. They assume strength, not fragility, and as a result they behave very differently.



Friendly Video Guide to Famous Classical Composer

FRIENDLY VIDEO GUIDE 
to FAMOUS CLASSICAL COMPOSER
MOZART, BEETHOVEN, CHOPIN, BACH, BRAHMS, TCHAIKOVSKY & VERDI


Do you love Classical Music and don't know where to start?
 
At last, there's some short video and friendly one for the non-classical music lovers, 
that shows some facts about the famous classical composer of all time.
Thanks to Classic FM

Beethoven

Tchaikovsky

for watching more, please visit Classic FM!

There's also some visual facts and pictures facts 
about the history of the composer in the timeline, according the era.
Really great website and helpful to appreciate Classical Music more...

Here's some interesting articles:

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

"Anya's First Piano Concert" - A Story About Piano Lesson's Journey of her beloved daughter from Leonny Atmadja

"ANYA'S FIRST PIANO CONCERT"
A STORY ABOUT PIANO LESSON'S JOURNEY 
OF HER BELOVED DAUGHTER
BY: LEONNY ATMADJA


Anya started her first ever piano lesson in November 2012. And, she had her very first piano concert on May 19th 2013, some six months later. Together with her coach whom she calls ‘Ms Jelia’, Anya performed: Beauty and the Beast, Mickey Mouse March and the Chicken Dance.

Everyone was so quiet in between her three performances, and so I had to seriously restrain myself from clapping and going, ‘Wootttt!” each time she finished a piece!

This piano concert was a HUGE milestone for her. And for us. She’s very excited about it. She practiced everyday, and although she told me afterwards how she’s so scared about pressing the wrong key during the actual performance, I thought she did very well for a first-timer! (Plus, there were more than 350 people in the audience, so THAT alone must’ve been nerve-wrecking for her)

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

"Ketika Musik Disney Menghibur & Mendidik" - Liputan Konser Disney Pianolicious, Staccato Juli 2013

“KETIKA MUSIK DISNEY MENGHIBUR DAN MENDIDIK”
(Liputan Konser ‘DISNEY PIANOLICIOUS’)
Staccato Magazine, July 2013


Pusat Kebudayaan Amerika @america, yang terletak di Pacific Place lantai 3, Minggu 19 Mei 2013. Menjelang senja sekitar jam dua siang, mendadak penuh sesak dan dipadati baik tua, muda hingga anak-anak. Petugas keamanan @america sampai kewalahan dan keringetan. Sementara site managernya nampak panik dan kebingungan menyaksikan begitu banyak kerumunan massa yang mencapai jumlah lebih dari 400 orang.


Hari itu adalah pelaksanaan konser DISNEY PIANOLICIOUS dengan direksi Jelia Megawati Heru, M.Mus.Edu.Media koran mencatat bahwa konser ini termasuk yang luar biasa mengundang minat pengunjung dalam sejarah konser musik seni di tanah air. Disney Pianolicious adalah konser dari para siswa Jelia dan juga kolega Jelia, yakni para pemusik profesional. Musik yang disajikan adalah musik yang mengusung tema dari soundtrack film karya Walt Disney dan juga film Amerika - dalam bentuk solo piano, ensemble perkusi, vocal, ensemble vocal, gitar dan duo piano (piano four hands dan two pianos)

Dalam sambutannya, Jelia Megawati Heru mengatakan bahwa Walt Disney adalah pelopor musik seni dalam dunia perfilman. Dan Walt Disney adalah ikon yang menjadikan musik sebagai bagian tak terpisahkan dalam film. Dan film Disney bukan semata film anak-anak. Film Disney adalah sebuah cerita tentang kehidupan dalam ranah yang sangat dekat dengan kehidupan kesehariaan kita. Ranah itulah yang diapresiasi oleh para siswa Jelia dan koleganya. Para siswa tidak hanya warga negara Indonesia, melainkan banyak juga warga negara asing yang belajar pada Jelia. Konser dilengkapi juga dengan dekorasi video screen berukuran raksasa dan terang, sehingga pengunjung makin terpukau.

"Instrumen Musik Bagi Balita Anda" - Staccato Juli 2013

“INSTRUMEN MUSIK BAGI BALITA ANDA”
Oleh: Jelia Megawati Heru
Artikel STACCATO, Juli 2013

 

Sudah bukan merupakan hal yang asing lagi, bahwa musik mempunyai segudang manfaat yang positif bagi tumbuh kembang sang buah hati, terutama pada masa golden age. Banyak cara kreatif dan menyenangkan yang dapat dilakukan dalam mengajarkan musik bagi balita. Salah satunya adalah dengan memperkenalkan instrumen musik. Hal apa saja yang harus diperhatikan dalam pemilihan instrumen bagi balita? Instrumen musik apa saja yang sesuai bagi balita untuk merangsang minat, bakat, imajinasi, dan kreativitasnya? Check this out!


CHOOSE THE MUSIC INSTRUMENTS WISELY!
Instrumen musik yang mahal bukanlah indikasi mutlak sebuah instrumen yang baik. Beberapa hal harus dipertimbangkan sehubungan dengan pemilihan instrumen, terutama dalam hal keamanan bagi si kecil. Selain itu pemilihan instrumen juga diprioritaskan pada aktivitas dalam menghasilkan musik (making music). Jadi disini ada korelasi antara tindakan menghasilkan musik (action) dan produksi bunyi (sound) maupun nada tertentu (pitch) merupakan hal yang sangat penting untuk melatih otot motorik besar anak (gross motoric), seperti: memetik senar, memukul drum/xylophone. Anak bukan hanya sekedar menekan tombol pada instrumen yang menggunakan baterai, banyak lampu, dan berbunyi, seperti gitar plastik dengan baterai dan tanpa senar (strings).  Instrument yang termasuk dalam kategori ini merupakan musical toys, dan bukan termasuk music instruments. Berikut hal-hal lain yang patut dipertimbangkan sehubungan dengan pemilihan instrumen musik bagi balita.

 

TIPS MEMILIH INSTRUMEN MUSIK YANG COCOK BAGI BALITA:

1. Eco-friendly & non toxic (recycled/daur ulang yang tidak beracun)
Balita suka memasukkan segala sesuatu ke dalam mulutnya, oleh karena itu faktor keamanan seperti bahan ramah lingkungan dan tidak mengandung bahan kimia yang beracun merupakan hal yang tidak bisa ditawar.

Monday, July 1, 2013

A GREAT TEACHER - What might a great teacher looks like?

 A GREAT TEACHER
What might a great teacher looks like?

 
A great teacher turns the light bulb of insight on.
A great teacher inspires you to be who you actually are. 

The shame is that teacher and his students are falsely measured by those standardized tests, not by what he has inspired them to do and become.  

A great teacher imparts his or her subject matter in a way that makes you want to learn more, helps you understand what’s important and why, and helps you see connections between all subjects.

A great teacher helps you when you need help, but also knows when to leave you alone. 

A great teacher knows when you need a shoulder to cry on and when you need a kick in the pants. Often you think a great teacher hates you — only to realize, later, that he or she was pushing you to be and do your best. 

The lessons a great teacher gives you stay with you your whole life. 


"The Tiger Mom" - 16 Signs of a Harsh Parenting

"THE TIGER MOM"
16 Signs of a Harsh Parenting


Too Strict For Your Own Rules?
Ever heard the name Amy Chua? She is the author of a book titled "The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother". The book is quite astonishing the world of parenting. In this book, she tells how to discipline her own daughters in a very extreme way. Yelled at them with the word "garbage" because they weren't polite in front of the guests, threw birthday greeting cards handmade by her own daughters because it wasn't good enough for her, forbade her children to stay at a friend's house, and couldn't accept if their score wasn't an "A". She applies very strict rules and regulates all things in children's lives. Other stories what she did with his two daughters were pretty scary and made her earn the title as "tiger mom".

"The kids really want to make their parents proud of them.
They always worried about the parental approval.

So, when the regulations against child are getting too hard,
the result is going to make the children so frightened
and make them difficult to decide on something.

They realize that they will never be able to meet the wishes of the mother,
so they never even want to try. "

Elizabeth J. Short, PhD,
professor of psychology at Case Western Reserve University


Here are 16 signs of a harsh parenting on children:

1. There are so many rules, even too many!
How many rules that you applied to a child?